US televangelist Jim Bakker has died at the age of 86. His death was announced on Monday by his second wife, Lori Bakker, who described him as "a pioneer of Christian television". Bakker built a multimillion-dollar media empire with his first wife, Tammy Faye, before being jailed for fraud and conspiracy. He founded a Christian television programme called The PTL Club in 1974, which attracted 13 million viewers per day at its peak.
The PTL Club, short for 'Praise the Lord' or 'People That Love', cemented Bakker's fame with his first wife Tammy Faye. The couple built their empire with 2,000 employees and a 2,300-acre Heritage USA theme park complex in Fort Mill, South Carolina. They had a famously opulent lifestyle, owning a private jet, multiple homes, luxury cars, jewellery, and even an air-conditioned dog house.
However, Bakker's empire began to fall apart in the late 80s after he became embroiled in a sex scandal. In 1987, Bakker resigned from the PTL ministry after revelations of a 1980 sexual encounter with a former church secretary, Jessica Hahn. Hahn received a $265,000 payoff with ministry funds, resulting in Bakker being defrocked of his ministerial credentials.
Bakker was convicted in 1989 of 24 counts of mail and wire fraud and conspiracy in a scheme involving their Christian theme park. He served more than four years in prison. Tammy Faye stayed with her husband throughout the trial but divorced him in 1992 while he was in prison. She died of cancer in 2007.
Following Bakker's release from prison in 1994, he wrote a book titled I Was Wrong and married his second wife Lori in 1998. The couple began a TV ministry together in 2003 and in 2008 they began taping The Jim Bakker Show. Lori Bakker described her late husband as "my best friend, and the man I was honoured to walk beside through so many seasons of life and ministry".
The cause of Bakker's death was not specified. He leaves behind his second wife Lori and their family. Bakker's legacy as a televangelist remains complex, marked by both his influential television ministry and his later conviction for fraud and conspiracy.
The story of Jim Bakker serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by televangelists and their ministries. Bakker's case highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in religious organizations. His death marks the end of an era for Christian television, and his impact will be remembered for years to come.
Key points
- Jim Bakker, a US televangelist, has died at the age of 86.
- Bakker built a multimillion-dollar media empire before being jailed for fraud and conspiracy.
- He leaves behind a complex legacy as a televangelist, marked by both his influential television ministry and his later conviction.
